Archive for August, 2007
Shanghai Photos
I’m spending some time in Shanghai for work. It’s great. We’re working all day, so I haven’t had the opportunity to take many photos. Here are some preliminary photos from the first few days:
View from my hotel window. Note that it’s very hazy–it’s been like that all week.
Pearl tower near the Bund on the Pudong side of shanghai. Yes, this is the future
View of the river at the Bund.
Traditional Chinese foods for dinner.
Filed under Shanghai : Comments (4) : Aug 15th, 2007
Shanghai day two
When traveling, it’s always interesting to note the subtle differences in the way different cultures approach the same issues. Our hotel in Shanghai is a model of quality service. The ratio of guests to employees is about 3:1, meaning there is always someone waiting to greet you and assist as needed. When I go to breakfast in the morning, I am first greeted as I step out of the elevator, then again at the entrance to the restaurant, then as I’m seated at a table, then again as I go to the buffet line, and once more when I return and order a beverage. In the restaurant there are 10 tables and 12 staff. It’s wonderful.
Filed under Shanghai : Comments (1) : Aug 13th, 2007
Shanghai, day one
I made it to Shanghai in one piece and no worse for the wear. The flight was about 13 hours, plus another hour or two on the ground as we waited for the United maintenance crew to fix the plane. Upon arriving in Shanghai, we made it through customs with surprisingly little trouble. I had to promise that I wasn’t bringing more than 400 sticks of cigarettes or any material detrimental to the Peoples Republic of China, but the process was much more efficient and friendly than in the US.
We took a bus into the city and got a little flavor for Shanghai. There are large buildings everywhere, and you’re always in view of a construction site. The pollution makes everything look a little dingy from the outside, but at night the city sparkles. Our hotel is very nice and I’m sure to be comfortable living here for the next three weeks.
I went on my first small shopping adventure at the supermarket. In the store, I felt delightfully overwhelmed and out of place. I’m really not going to fool anybody into thinking I’m a local here. I purchased some bottled water for 1.3 RMB (about 17 cents) and successfully paid and thanked the cashier. (At the moment, my language skills begin and end with “thank you”).
Shanghai is great. I can now plainly see that China is the future. Check back here for more in the coming days!
Filed under Shanghai : Comments (0) : Aug 11th, 2007
China
I’m going to Shanghai in the Peoples Republic of China. For three weeks. I’m incredibly excited.
Filed under work : Comments (2) : Aug 7th, 2007
tadfad quiz : results
What is distinctive about this region of the U.S. ?
The answer:
This is the approximate region that that uses General American pronunciation.
General American (sometimes called Standard Midwestern, Standard Spoken American English or American Broadcast English) is the accent of American English perceived by Americans to be most “neutral” and free of regional characteristics. The General American accent is not thought of as a linguistic standard in the sense that Received Pronunciation (RP) has historically been the standard, prestige variant in England, but its speakers are perceived as “accentless” by most Americans.
The winner:
Dillon! (Send me your address and I’ll put your prize in the mail)
Filed under culture : Comments (1) : Aug 3rd, 2007
